By: Roger S. Brubaker, Meadow Valley Electric, Inc., 2020 Chair of the Board – ABC Keystone
We are off and running! We have quickly entered the second month of the new year, and in late January, ABC’s chief economist Anirban Basu gave attendees at the Annual Economic Breakfast a positive 2020 forecast for construction. What does this mean for member companies?
If you are like many of our contractor members, the search for skilled workers continues to get more desperate, and ABC is committed to working towards filling the pipeline. ABC Keystone offers many educational training and safety programs to help move employees from entry-level to seasoned foreman as quickly and safely as possible – including the Chapter’s first-class PA Registered Apprenticeship Program, Career Development education, and Safety certifications and training. We also offer registered Pre-apprenticeship programs, giving students key certifications and core skills to jump start them into careers in the construction industry.
Speaking of safety, the Keystone Chapter now offers special discounts for safety training exclusively for STEP (Safety Training Evaluation Program) participants. Safety pays more than ever before when you utilize this benefit. Also, I’d like to remind you that the 2020 STEP applications are due May 30, so now is the time to download the form and get this discussion on your safety committee’s next meeting agenda. Look for your STEP packet in the mail!
Did you know that Gold Level STEP participants are 193% safer than the BLS (Bureaur of Labor Statistics average? My goal for our Chapter this year is to add 30 Contractor members as new STEP participants. Will you STEP up and be one of those contractors? Learn more at abcstep.org.
February is also the month for our Regional Construction Wake-up Call meetings. Each Wednesday of the month, Keystone will take the issues to the members beginning with the Southwest Region followed by the Northeast, Capitol and Lancaster region meetings. “Advocacy in Action” will be the topic of discussion. Find out how ABC PA is making a difference in Harrisburg and how you can help. I’d like to give a shout out to our industry sponsors for making these events FREE to attend with registration. Learn more at abckeystone.org under the Member Benefits tab.
Later this month the ever popular “Meet the Generals” event will be held on the 25th. Contractors, specialty contractors and their personnel are constantly changing, making this a must attend event every year. Networking and table top displays also make this a “cannot miss” event. Register online!
Our Board of Directors are already busy working on our 2020 initiatives. I am invested in our organization’s merit shop philosophy and pursuit of free enterprise. I hope you are dedicated, too! Please always feel free to contact me with any new ideas, comments or suggestions that you may have for our Chapter.
I look forward to a great year!
Posted February 6, 2020
